Publisher(s)

Series

Release date(s)

Genre(s)

Mode(s)

Rating(s)

ESRB: Teen T

Platform(s)

PlayStation

Media

CD-ROM (PS1)

Input

PlayStation controller

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 (ドラゴンボールZ アルティメイトバトル22, Doragonbōru Zetto Aruteimeito Batoru 22) is a 2D/3D fighting video game based on the Dragon Ball Z anime series. It was released for the PlayStation in 1995 in Japan and 1996 in Europe.

Contents

Overview

Android 16 vs. Recoome

The game is called "Ultimate Battle 22" because it features 22 characters at the beginning of the game. Five more characters can be unlocked, and upon unlocking the characters, the title screen instead says "Ultimate Battle 27". The game is notable for using actual cel drawings from the animators as character sprites and cutscenes before the fights which were a novelty at the time of its original release in Japan (these cutscenes were removed on the European and US releases). When Ultimate Battle 22 was officially released by Atari in North America, eight years after its Japanese release, no English dub track was produced and the pre-battle cutscenes were removed.

Another fighting game, titled Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butōden (which never received an American release), was released for the Sega Saturn a short time after Ultimate Battle 22 in Japan and is very similar to Ultimate Battle 22. Notably, the character selection is the same, the sprites from Ultimate Battle 22 were reused in Shin Butōden, and for the most part, both games share the same music.

Gameplay

Great Saiyaman vs. Cell

Characters have two different meters to display status: a basic health meter and strength meter (latter explained below). The fighters have an array of basic close-up punches and kicks, as well as special attacks that require a motion with the directional buttons and attack input (each character has a "hypermove" by doing different combos). Most special attacks are based on actual moves used by characters in the manga/anime (i.e. Goku's Kamehameha), but require a large strength reserve to be used repeatedly. Other basic special attacks include a variety of Ki Blasts and explosion-based attacks.

Dabura vs. Trunks

Like the previous installments of the Butōden series, Ultimate Battle 22 has two levels of gameplay: grounded or in the air. By pressing triangle, the player's character will rise up and levitate, and if the other character does so, the camera goes to a dynamic aerial view. It does not have major effects on gameplay except for the different camera angles. In addition, if a character is hit with an attack that does heavy damage while aerial, they will plummet downwards an receive additional damage (much like fights in the regular anime).

Most characters have some sort of Ki Blast attack, melee attack, or approach attack. Doing special attacks drains the strength meter. Like in the previous fighting games of the series, when the meter is fully drained, the character will be exhausted and cannot move until strength is recovered or until being hit. To restore strength, one must hold square, X, and circle. The character will then do the signature charge pose by glowing in yellow aura and yelling. The player can also create a large Energy Shield (or Force Field in the case of Androids) for a brief moment by pressing right, down, and left on the control pad, and then pressing circle. While doing so, the player cannot be harmed by energy-based attacks, but is completely vulnerable to melee attacks.

Reception

Ultimate Battle 22 was the subject of an overwhelming number of negative American reviews. The original Japanese game came out in 1995, and thus, by comparison to the more recent titles of the time, the game paled.

GameSpot give it a 1.2/10, calling it a "really, really terrible game."

﻿The method to unlock the five secret characters is mentioned in the instruction booklet that comes with the game. To unlock them, the following buttons must pressed in order while at the title screen: Up, Triangle, Down, X, Left, L1, Right & R1. After inputting the code, a sound is heard and an intro which features the five hidden characters is shown. After that, the title screen changed from "Ultimate Battle 22" to "Ultimate Battle 27" (due to the addition of the five hidden characters) appears.

Mr. Satan is the only character in the game who does not have a strength meter, due to the fact that he does not use ki but instead uses weapons.

When forming Gogeta, Vegeta appears in his Majin state during the VS character (Gogeta) intro (Japanese version only)

In the secret opening of the five characters, Goku and Vegeta had the Potara but it's not Vegito who appears but Gogeta.

When playing as Zarbon, he is able to perform the Crusher Ball despite not being it one of his moves. He poses and yells "Crusher Ball!!" then proceeds to throw a medium-sized ki ball (In actuality it's Jeice’s move, from the Ginyu Force) this is fixed in Shin Botuden.